Category: Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454)

In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or Medieval Period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. The Middle Ages is the middle period of the three traditional divisions of Western history: classical antiquity, the medieval period, and the modern period. The medieval period is itself subdivided into the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages.

Her Wicked Knight by Jen Bradlee

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Part of a Series, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Her Wicked Knight (Prince of Whispers Trilogy #0)Her Wicked Knight by Jen Bradlee

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Prince of Whispers, Prequel

Release Date: November 28, 2023

Marian Ravenwood of Ravinell travels to the court of King Henry to plead for help in fighting the raiders who are attacking Ravinell. Her father, Baron Ravinell is ill, something Marian doesn’t want to become public knowledge, it is up to her to protect the holding. She is greeted at court by her neighbor, Baron de Bough, who sympathizes with her about the attacks, noting that only her lands have been targeted and even suggests that they marry, an offer she has already declined. She is holding out hope that the King will send a contingent to Ravinell, therefore sparing her the need to accept Baron de Bough. While waiting, she hears whispers of the King’s champion, Sir Guy Silverthorne a knight known far and wide as “The Grim Knight”. But when the two meet, it is certainly not love at first sight and Marian is then horrified when King Henry assigns Sir Guy to Ravinell. She sets out to ignore him, even though she secretly finds him fascinating and is attracted to him. They return to Ravinell to find Marian’s father is much improved and is delighted that Sir Guy has come. This will make things harder for Marian, as she is keeping some very big secrets and isn’t sure if she can trust Sir Guy.

Sir Guy Silverthorne is a bad man who has done heinous things for King Henry, things that haunt him and have surely damned his soul to hell. He knows he is not worthy of a woman like Marian, but despite that knowledge, he is not only attracted to her, he is intrigued by her. He knows she is keeping secrets and finds the fact that only Ravinell is being attacked by the raiders suspicious. When he learns her secret, he agrees to help her for a price, he wants her in his bed…forever. Guy has to walk a fine line with Marian, he is sure he knows who is behind the raids, but he needs proof, and even that might not be enough to stop the traitor and save the woman he has come to love.

This was a well-written, nicely paced, intriguing Enemies to Lovers tale and is the prequel to the Prince of Whispers series featuring Ruby’s parents. I was pulled into the story from the start and could barely put it down, the book is filled with wonderful characters, intrigue, secrets, lots of action, steamy love scenes, evil villains, betrayal, loss, love, and finally a happy-ever-after that didn’t seem possible. I loved this book and enthusiastically recommend this title to historical romance lovers who enjoy some steam in their romances! This book is the prequel to the Prince of Whispers series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone title. Enjoy!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

The Knight’s Substitute Bride by Melissa Oliver ~ #BlogTour

On By TracyIn Blog Tour, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Part of a Series, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Knight’s Substitute Bride

Could the wrong bride…

Be right for him after all!

For the sake of his family name, Lord Robert must marry to seal an alliance with an Irish clan. Only, the woman at the altar isn’t who he was promised! Instead, it’s her sister, Lady Mairenn! The sharp-tongued Irish beauty is as reluctant to wed as Robert, but as friction turns to fire between them, she’s further derailing Robert’s plans for this purely pragmatic arrangement…

Purchase Links:

US – UK

Author Bio:

Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes sweeping historical romance and is the winner of The Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers 2020 for her debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight.

Connect with Melissa:

Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Website

Tracy’s Review:

The Knight's Substitute Bride (Brothers and Rivals #2)The Knight’s Substitute Bride by Melissa Oliver

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Brothers and Rivals, # 2

Release Date: November 28, 2023

Mairenn Ni Tiernan, the younger daughter of Clan Darach’s chief, Tiernan MacGlenadh goes behind her dying father’s back and helps her sister Cliodhna marry the man she loves, which means the alliance that her father has brokered with Norman-Saxon Lord Robert de Brunville will be ruined unless he will accept Mairenn in her stead. Mairenn has long acted as her father’s counsel with clan matters and should have been her father’s choice as Robert’s bride, but she suffers from debilitating migraines and her father believes that makes her a liability and a way for their enemies to use her against them. But Mairenn had once been in love and lost that love, she didn’t believe that she would ever love again and couldn’t bear for her sister to be forced to marry a stranger and abandon her love. Mairenn and Robert marry and sadly her father passes away and she suffers a migraine, she is touched by the way Robert cares for her and soon finds herself beginning to fall for him. But when the past comes calling and someone close betrays them, will she lose her second chance at love?

Lord Robert de Brunville’s life has been full of surprises lately, first meeting the twin brother he never knew he had and learning that his brother John, was raised in Ireland and is known as Ruaidhir the Ruthless. He is still trying to understand how their father could have abandoned his son and why Ruaidhir dislikes their uncle Sir Anselm, when he is dealt another blow by Tiernan of Darach when he seemingly betrays him by switching brides at the last minute. But that switch may be the best thing that ever happened to him and he finds himself drawn to his reckless and passionate wife. So much so that he decides that he must keep himself in check around her, especially when his uncle begins to comment on the amount of time he is spending with her. Robert tries to distance himself and fails but when danger comes to their gates and loyalties are questioned, will he realize that his feelings for her are not a weakness or will he lose everything, including the woman he has come to love more than life itself?

What a great story! The writing was great and the story was nicely paced and included several intriguing twists and turns as well as a wonderful cast of characters. I enjoyed the interaction between Mairenn and Robert and was delighted by the instant attraction they shared. The story is filled with emotion, secrets, surprises, steamyish love scenes, betrayal, and finally HEA complete with an epilogue. I did feel like there was a bit too much unnecessary angst at the very end, but overall it was a great story. I didn’t realize this was the second book in a two-book connected series and while I wish I had read the first book before I read this one, I didn’t have any problem following the connected storyline. I will certainly be reading Ruaidhir’s story and would happily recommend this series to lovers of medieval romance.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*